How to Incorporate in Rhode Island

To incorporate in Rhode Island you must file Articles of Incorporation with the Division of Business Services. There is a minimum filing fee of $230. Articles of Incorporation can be filed by mail or online, although online filings are processed more quickly. A Rhode Island corporation is owned by its shareholders. Shareholders must hold an initial shareholders meeting to ratify the company’s bylaws and appoint a Board of Directors and corporate officers. After you incorporate in Rhode Island, you will need to file an Annual Report each year between January 1 and March 1, the filing fee for which is $50.

Do I need to reserve a name before I can incorporate in Rhode Island?

How long will it take to get my Rhode Island Incorporation or Rhode Island LLC processed?

It will take the Rhode Island Secretary of State about 7 business days to process your Rhode Island Articles of Incorporation if you file via paper or online. You can walk in your formation documents and they will process them that day.

What am I going to be looking at for ongoing fees to Rhode Island?

The Rhode Island Secretary of State requires an annual report for corporations and LLCs. The first report is due the year after your filing is made and every year thereafter. Annual reports in Rhode Island are due on March 1st for corporations, and November 1st for LLCs. The annual report filing fee is $50.

What are the Rhode Island business taxes?

When you incorporate in Rhode Island, you will subject yourself to Rhode Island corporate net income tax rates of 9% of your net taxable income or $2.50 for every $10,000 of authorized capital stock, whichever is greater.
There is a minimum franchise tax payment of $500, otherwise called the Rhode Island Business Corporation Tax. The tax must be paid for LLCs and S corporation elections as well as C corporations.
Rhode Island personal income tax rates range from 3.75% to 9.9%.
The average Rhode Island sales tax rate is 7%.